We're Still Alive, I Promise. ANNOTATED

Brooke here! The reason my mom hasn't posted in almost a year is because she's too awesome for her own good. (She's too kind. The reason I haven't posted in almost a year is because I'm good at making up excuses not to post, like I don't have good pictures of what I want to blog about, or just plain procrastination.) The family is in a perpetual state of motion--they start before dawn and work/school/practice/perform/host/teach/help/serve/etc until they drop well into the night.(This is pretty much true. But whose family isn't busy?)So here's a quick update of what everyone's up to. (As far as I can tell, anyway. They don't call me anymore. (We do too call, just not as often as she'd like.))

Dallin has most of his college applications in and is auditioning for North Texas University today.(He did great! Chris and I sneaked into the foyer where we could hear after he'd gone into the audition room and were soooo proud of our French horn playing son! Turns out his auditioner (is that a word?) knew one of Chris's music professors at BYU.)  He survived the craziest semester imaginable and otherwise laughs in the face of stress. He was brass captain of the Regiment this year and he and John both marched in the Rose Parade this year. (We went to see it live-my first time ever- and it was awesome!)

John is still obsessed with band and plays first alto in the Stage Band. (He's auditioning on Tuesday for Wind Symphony, so he plays classical, too. Although he really prefers jazz.) He has great teachers (I would know, I had half of them at his age) and is otherwise awesome.

Jared is a...blue(?) (nope. green) belt in karate now and returned to public school this year. He's a sixth grader and clearly the smartest kid in his class. (True. But he's humble about it. He made the million word club, and has a goal to read 3 million words by the end of the school year.)

Noah is also at the public school and is probably the most well-spoken third grader in the country. (Well, maybe not the entire country, but he's not shy to talk to anyone about pretty much anything.) His AYSO team made the playoffs (will this season ever end they win?) and he can talk soccer all day long (as long as you don't bring up famous teams or players).

My parents are still working hard at their callings (Dad's in the bishopric and Mom's YW President) and manage to get everyone where they need to be on time. They still look too young to be married for almost 21 years.(Has it only been 21 years? It seems like forever- and I mean that in a good way!)

That's all I can think of for now, and Mom can fill in the rest. (Thanks for updating, Brooke! Feel free to continue, and I'll edit where necessary:)